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Publications

The following list of California Water Science Center publications includes both official USGS publications and journal articles authored by our scientists.

Filter Total Items: 1854

Hydrology of Yucca Mountain, Nevada Hydrology of Yucca Mountain, Nevada

Yucca Mountain, located in southern Nevada in the Mojave Desert, is being considered as a geologic repository for high-level radioactive waste. Although the site is arid, previous studies indicate net infiltration rates of 5-10 mm yr-1 under current climate conditions. Unsaturated flow of water through the mountain generally is vertical and rapid through the fractures of the welded tuffs...
Authors
A. L. Flint, L. E. Flint, E. M. Kwicklis, G.S. Bodvarsson, J. M. Fabryka-Martin

Eddy covariance measurement of CO2 flux to the atmosphere from a area of high volcanogenic emissions, Mammoth Mountain, California Eddy covariance measurement of CO2 flux to the atmosphere from a area of high volcanogenic emissions, Mammoth Mountain, California

Three pilot studies were performed to assess application of the eddy covariance micrometeorological method in the measurement of carbon dioxide (CO2) flux of volcanic origin. The selected study area is one of high diffuse CO2 emission on Mammoth Mountain, CA. Because terrain and source characteristics make this a complex setting for this type of measurement, added consideration was given...
Authors
Dean E. Anderson, Christopher D. Farrar

Tectonic contraction across Los Angeles after removal of groundwater pumping effects Tectonic contraction across Los Angeles after removal of groundwater pumping effects

After the 1987 Whittier Narrows and 1994 Northridge earthquakes revealed that blind thrust faults represent a significant threat to metropolitan Los Angeles, a network of 250 continuously recording global positioning system (GPS) stations was deployed to monitor displacements associated with deep slip on both blind and surface faults. Here we augment this GPS data with interferometric...
Authors
Gerald W. Bawden, Wayne R. Thatcher, Ross S. Stein, Kenneth W. Hudnut, G. Peltzer

Distribution of inorganic mercury in Sacramento River water and suspended colloidal sediment material Distribution of inorganic mercury in Sacramento River water and suspended colloidal sediment material

The concentration and distribution of inorganic Hg was measured using cold-vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry in samples collected at selected sites on the Sacramento River from below Shasta Dam to Freeport, CA, at six separate times between 1996 and 1997. Dissolved (ultrafiltered, 0.005 μm equivalent pore size) Hg concentrations remained relatively constant throughout the system...
Authors
D.A. Roth, Howard E. Taylor, Joseph L. Domagalski, Peter D. Dileanis, D.B. Peart, Ronald C. Antweiler, Charles N. Alpers

Tannin diagenesis in mangrove leaves from a tropical estuary: A novel molecular approach Tannin diagenesis in mangrove leaves from a tropical estuary: A novel molecular approach

Molecular-level condensed tannin analyses were conducted on a series of mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) leaves at various stages of decomposition in a tropical estuary. Total molecular tannin yields ranged from 0.5% ash-free dry weight (AFDW) in the most highly degraded black leaves (6-7 weeks in the water) up to >7% AFDW in fresh leaves (
Authors
P.J. Hernes, R. Benner, G.L. Cowie, M.A. Goi, B.A. Bergamaschi, J. I. Hedges

An evaluation of borehole flowmeters used to measure horizontal ground-water flow in limestones of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, 1999 An evaluation of borehole flowmeters used to measure horizontal ground-water flow in limestones of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, 1999

Three borehole flowmeters and hydrophysical logging were used to measure ground-water flow in carbonate bedrock at sites in southeastern Indiana and on the west-central border of Kentucky and Tennessee. The three flowmeters make point measurements of the direction and magnitude of horizontal flow, and hydrophysical logging measures the magnitude of horizontal flowover an interval. The...
Authors
John T. Wilson, Wayne A. Mandell, Frederick L. Paillet, E. Randall Bayless, Randall T. Hanson, Peter M. Kearl, William B. Kerfoot, Mark W. Newhouse, William H. Pedler

Soil N and 15N variation with time in a California annual grassland ecosystem Soil N and 15N variation with time in a California annual grassland ecosystem

The %N and ??15N values of soils and plants were measured along a chronosequence spanning 3 to 3000 Ky in a California annual grassland. Total soil N decreased with increasing soil age (1.1 to 0.4 kg N m-2) while the mean ?? 15N values of the soil N increased by several ??? from the youngest to oldest sites (+3.5 to +6.2 ???). The ?? 15N values of plants varied along the gradient...
Authors
D.L. Brenner, Ronald Amundson, W. Troy Baisden, C. Kendall, J. Harden

Effects of an agricultural drainwater bypass on fishes inhabiting the Grassland Water District and the lower San Joaquin River, California Effects of an agricultural drainwater bypass on fishes inhabiting the Grassland Water District and the lower San Joaquin River, California

The Grassland Bypass Project, which began operation in September 1996, was conceived as a means of diverting brackish selenium-contaminated agricultural drainwater away from canals and sloughs needed for transporting irrigation water to wetlands within the Grassland Water District (the Grasslands), Merced County, California. The seleniferous drainwater is now routed into the San Luis...
Authors
M. K. Saiki, B.A. Martin, S.E. Schwarzbach, T.W. May

Creation of residual flows in a partially stratified estuary Creation of residual flows in a partially stratified estuary

The creation of residual flows in estuaries is examined using acoustic Doppler current profiler data sets from northern San Francisco Bay. The data sets are analyzed using principal component analysis to examine the temporal variability of the flows which create the residual circulation. It is seen that in this periodically and partially stratified estuary the residual flows are created...
Authors
M.T. Stacey, J.R. Burau, Stephen G. Monismith

InSAR analysis of natural recharge to define structure of a ground-water basin, San Bernardino, California InSAR analysis of natural recharge to define structure of a ground-water basin, San Bernardino, California

Using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) analysis of ERS-1 and ERS-2 images, we detect several centimeters of uplift during the first half of 1993 in two areas of the San Bernardino ground-water basin of southern California. This uplift correlates with unusually high runoff from the surrounding mountains and increased ground-water levels in nearby wells. The deformation of...
Authors
Z. Lu, W.R. Danskin

Survey of fishes and environmental conditions in Abbotts Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore, California Survey of fishes and environmental conditions in Abbotts Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore, California

This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of fishery resources in Abbotts Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore. During February/March, May, August, and November 1999, fish were sampled with floating variable-mesh gill nets and small minnow traps from as many as 14 sites in the lagoon. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, total ammonia(NH3 + NH4+), salinity, turbidity...
Authors
M. K. Saiki, B.A. Martin
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